Sat Jul 12 06:10:23 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Delays Satellite Internet Launch, Cites Security Concerns and Aims for Multiple Providers
**Islamabad, Pakistan – July 12, 2025** – Pakistan is delaying the launch of satellite-based internet services as authorities finalize stricter regulations for foreign satellite operators and aim to invite more competition into the market, according to a media report published today.
The move follows heightened scrutiny of satellite communication systems after recent conflicts in the region, including those between India and Pakistan, and Iran and Israel. These events prompted Pakistani authorities to prioritize security and formulate new guidelines for companies offering satellite internet services.
The Dawn newspaper reports that after Starlink’s temporary No-Objection Certificate (NOC) expired in March, all foreign satellite operators are now required to submit new applications under the newly drafted Satellite Communications Regulations. These regulations are being finalized by the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) after incorporating feedback from the industry.
A senior official from the Ministry of IT and Telecom emphasized the importance of these stringent regulations, particularly in light of recent geopolitical events. “The new regulations will include important security clauses that may have been overlooked if the recent wars had not occurred,” the official stated. “Besides, Pakistan needs more than one satellite internet provider, and two more companies have expressed interest.”
In addition to Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, two other Low Earth Orbit (LEO) operators, OneWeb and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), have reportedly expressed interest in establishing operations in Pakistan.
Once registered under the new regulations, these satellite internet providers will be required to obtain operational licenses from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). A PTA official indicated that all companies, including Starlink, could potentially launch their services by the end of the year.
While Starlink was the first company to formally apply for registration, the absence of regulations has caused licensing delays. Sources cited by the Dawn newspaper suggest that Elon Musk is expected to attend the official launch ceremony once the regulatory hurdles are cleared. The government hopes the new regulations will foster a secure and competitive environment for satellite internet services within Pakistan.
First Piper 